Ilayathalapathy Vijay, as he is fondly referred to by his fans in Tamil Nadu, has now gone international. The Mersal actor has been honoured with the Best International Actor Award by International Achievement Recognitions Awards (IARA).
Congratulations Vijay Joseph.. Best International Actor. #bestinternationalactor pic.twitter.com/GRqXa9YUJ4
— IARA AWARDS (@IARA_Awards) September 23, 2018
Several took to Twitter to congratulate the actor.
சர்வதேச சாதனையாளர் அங்கீகார விருதுகள் (IARA) என்ற அமைப்பின் சார்பில், மெர்சல் படத்துக்காக "சிறந்த சர்வதேச நடிகர்" என்ற விருதை வென்ற நடிகர் விஜய் @actorvijay அவர்களுக்கு எனது வாழ்த்துக்களையும் பாராட்டுக்களையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். (1/2) pic.twitter.com/uIMXFUmlSa
— Vijayakant (@iVijayakant) September 23, 2018
Proud moment for all thamizhans #BestInternationalActorVIJAY
— Deepan Kuruvilla (@im_deepankumar) September 23, 2018
#BestInternationalActorVIJAY truely u deserve Thalaiva....proudest moment for us...lot more to come thalaivaaa...@actorvijay ...love u
— Livingston (@Livin07395) September 23, 2018
Proud moment for tamil cinema..feeling proud to be your fan @actorvijay sir #BestInternationalActorVIJAY #IARAAwards #IARAAwards2018 pic.twitter.com/USiO1txGML
— Mohan s (@Im_mohan31) September 23, 2018
Founded in 2014, IARA honours outstanding talents within the arts and entertainment industry. This year, among an astounding list of nominees, which included names like Joshua Jackson (Children of a Lesser God), Kenneth Okolie (The Royal Hibiscus Hotel), Adjetey Anang (Side Chick Gang), Khumbulani Kay Sabiya (Agent) and Taim Hasan (El Heba El Awda), actor Vijay won the award for his performance in the film Mersal.
Vijay was also nominated for the Best Actor Award among actors like David Tennant (Don Juan in Soho), John Boyega (Star Wars:The Last Jedi), Chris Attoh (Swing), Jack Perry Jones (Bang), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Zack Morris (Eastenders) and Jamie Lomas (Hollyoaks) this year.
Last year, the Best International Actor Award was bagged by Nigerian actor Oc Ukeje for his performance in The Arbitration, a 2016 Nigerian romantic drama.
The IARA, however, is not the first international accolade for the 2017 action drama directed by Atlee. Mersal also won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 4th edition of the National Film Awards UK 2018 in April. Actor Vijay was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor Award for the film.
Mersal also starred Nithya Menon, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha, SJ Surya, Vadivelu and Sathyaraj. The film collected around Rs 251 crore worldwide, coming next only to Baahubali 2.
Made on a huge budget of Rs 120 crores, the film was bankrolled by N Ramasamy, Hema Rukmani and H Murali, under the banner Thenandal Studio Limited.